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| Giving more than gifts |
| By Sarah Etter, News Reporter |
| Published: 12/25/2006 |
This holiday season, a source of good cheer for communities across the country might just come from behind bars. County jail and state prison inmates are refurbishing toys for needy children, shoveling snow for the elderly, and donating commissary funds to charities. 
In South Dakota, the SDDOC inmates have spent their extra time shoveling snow as part of the Scoop It program.
“There were a lot of elderly and disabled folks in our area who couldn't shovel their sidewalks and driveways, or couldn't afford to pay someone else to do it,” explains DOC spokesman Mike Winder. “There were some minimum-security inmates who were not employed, and we decided to create a crew of them to take care of the problem.” Once they had the shovelers, the department had to manage the snow removal requests, so they turned to the United Way to establish a help line. When requests are called in, the United Way passes them to the DOC where crews of about six inmates head to homes in Sioux Falls, Yankton, Rapid City and Pierre. The inmates are non-violent offenders qualified for work release or community service. Winder says the United Way can be a good source for other DOCs wishing to start a similar program. “The first thing to do is to connect with a community group or agency that can assist your department,” he explains. Once a connection is made, Winder recommends selecting officers who can oversee the work crews, much like trash collecting crews. Once the SDDOC project got rolling, the news of its success snowballed across the state. “We clear hundreds of homes in the winter,” says Winder. “We are getting tons of positive feedback.” Missouri inmates are working more like elves during this holiday season as they chose tools over shovels. At Cameron's Western Missouri Center inmates are mending used toys and bikes and then donating them. “We have been involved in fixing up these toys for about five years now,” explains MODOC Restorative Justice Coordinator Jeananne Markway. “The toys go to a non-profit organization and then they end up at schools and day care centers in need.” Broken bikes are donated to the DOC, as offenders get to work repairing the tires, spokes and handlebars. Inmates test-drive the bikes to ensure safety before they are distributed to kids who requested them for Christmas. Meanwhile, the toys are cleaned and repaired and the distributed to needy children through the Salvation Army. This year, DOC elves will donate 75 bikes and countless toys to the non-profit organizations that request their help. “Anything that gives back to children, the inmates really put in 150 percent,” Markway says. “It's really amazing to see this kind of dedication inspired in offenders.” The holiday season is also alive and well in Massachusetts, where Hampden County Correctional Center (http://www.hcsdmass.org/) offenders recently donated $5,000 of their commissary funds to Toy for Joy. Last year, Toy for Joy gave 16,000 children gifts throughout the holiday season. According to Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe, the Toy for Joy program is a gre at way for inmates to get into the holiday spirit. “It goes along with the idea of restitution, and entering back into the community by doing good things,” Ashe said in local Massachusetts paper The Republican. “They know this fund is for local children. This is a way for them to give back, and they are glad to do it.” Arizona offenders are giving back by manufacturing one-of-a-kind gifts. Those involved with the AZOC's Correctional Industries program are creating purses and lunchboxes sculpted from state license plates.The bags are flying off the shelves as consumers are snapping them up to give as Christmas presents. “We had no idea how many people would want to give these purses away as gifts,” says AZDOC (http://www.azcorrections.gov/newindex.asp) spokeswoman Katie Decker. “This is such a fun, unique gift and these purses are aesthetically pleasing. It's a conversation piece, definitely.” Each lunchbox costs $21.50, and purses run about $27. For an extra fee, the purses can be personalized and rhinestones added. Decker says that style aside, the program helps rehabilitate offenders by keeping them busy. “The public gets unique holiday gifts and our inmates learn real skills that give them a better chance to succeed after release. What could be better?” Decker says. However, if you're in the market for a purse, you might have to wait until after the holiday season. “We're definitely struggling to keep up with the high demand,” Decker adds. “We never expected this to happen, so we're working around the clock to keep up.” Whether its refurbishing bikes, shoveling snow, donating commissary funds, or creating unique holiday gifts, many DOCs and their offenders are finding unique ways to give back to their communities. After all, tis the season. Related resources: Voracious volunteering, 12/13 |
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